e-Audio, 10:44:39
Narrated by: Tashi Thomas
Release Date: September 27, 2022
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: September 23-28, 2022
Stand-alone
Source: Edelweiss (I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss and the Publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Racism, Misogyny, Sexual Assault (From a teacher)
For Readers Interested In: Paranormal, Witchy Magic, Romance, LGBTQ+, YAAn overachieving teen witch vies for a prestigious scholarship at her elite high school in this contemporary YA fantasy for fans of Never Have I Ever and Sabrina the Teen Witch!
Magically brilliant, academically perfect, chronically overcommitted…
Shay Johnson has all the makings of a successful witch. Now that she’s a junior at T.K. Anderson Magical Magnet School, she’s one step closer to winning the full-ride Brockton Scholarship–her ticket into the university of her dreams. Her main competition? Ana freaking Alvarez. The key to victory? Impressing Mr. B, drama teacher and head of the scholarship committee.
When Mr. B persuades Shay to star in this year’s aggressively inclusive, racially diverse musical—at their not-quite-diverse school–she agrees, wearily, even though she’ll have to put up with Ana playing the other lead. But with rehearsals underway, Shay realizes Ana is…not the despicable witch she’d thought. Perhaps she could even be a friend–or more. And Shay could use someone in her corner once she finds herself on the receiving end of Mr. B’s unpleasant and unwanted attention. When Shay learns she’s not the first witch to experience his inappropriate behavior, she must decide if she’ll come forward. But how can she speak out when the scholarship–and her future–are on the line?
An unforgettable debut, How to Succeed in Witchcraft conjures up searing social commentary, delightfully awkward high school theater, and magical proclamations of love.
*MY THOUGHTS*
When I heard about this book I was immediately excited. Black witches?! Yessssss! But unfortunately I didn’t like the inside as much as I liked the cover. It wasn’t bad, but it just wasn’t what I wanted if that makes sense. I know people say you’re not supposed to say that in your reviews, but I don’t know any other way to say it.
The book opens with a familiar scene. A teen is staying up late doing some things she loves doing, messing with potions. She then talks about her magic level and the way she loves potions throughout the whole book. BUTTTTT I just didn’t feel like there was enough explanation of the world. Like you’re telling us about this potion, but I wanted to SEE it! The colors it changed to. The way it was roiling in the cauldron. I don’t know, something. And the way she talked about the school….. It just seemed like a regular degular high school. Didn’t seem like it was exciting at all. I wanted to know more about this school that was teaching magic and giving the students their magic levels. It just didn’t seem that there was enough world-building.
The play was what I actually liked about this book. But then at some points it got to be repetitive. And it irked me because it was things that made me feel uncomfortable that kept being repeated. I get that it was part of the plot, but ugh. I wanted something more. Why couldn’t she repeat the good stuff? Or at least have the MC admit that the person was creepy? But I did get the added angst. I hate that she felt she HAD to do that in order to get anywhere. But that’s the issue with a lot of BIPOC people. They feel they have no choice but to take all the opportunities they can get because they might not have the chance again. I know that from experience, and my heart broke for her.
The romance was cute. It was an enemies to lovers romance, but I didn’t understand why lol She hated that girl for wanting the same thing she did. Lol it was just a bit much. But her friend was smart and right on the money. I was also happy that she told her in the way that she did also. Not only did she tell her about herself, but she also delivered receipts. I love a good proof session. Leaves no room for questions lol BUT I did feel like she was kind of rude to her friend. I understood 100% how she was feeling when it finally boiled to the surface because I was feeling it too.
The main character herself was just ok. I mean she was mostly oblivious. Like for her to be so smart, she didn’t know alot. Like the way she made her friend feel. And the way she was talking down on that one person when it was obvious that she just liked them. When the love interest was mad at her because she was going back and forth between liking them and then not. She was wishy washy even to me lol It just made it hard for me to love her.
Since I read this on audio, I wanted to make some notes about this. Before this I had only listened to one book narrated by Tashi Thomas, so it was good to be back with them. Because I do like their narration. It had good inflections, good voice changes between the characters, etc. I didn’t see any problems with this aspect of the book.
This book was nothing like I expected. It was more real life than the paranormal goodness I wanted. And for that, I had to make myself push through. I liked the sharing magic thing, but I did think she could have explained it more. And I liked the realness that shined through some of these instances, like the play and the best friend fight, but the bestie still being there for her. I just wish there was still some more world-building and she wasn’t as oblivious as she was.
Overall, I give this
